Dario Franchitti managed to hold off Takuma Sato this afternoon to win the 2012 Indianapolis 500. Franchitti won his third Indy 500 after Sato attempted a last minute costly move that sent him smashing into a wall.
Franchitti, 39, also won the Indianapolis 500 in 2007 and in 2010. Today, he beat his Target Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon under caution, one of just eight cautions for 39 of the races 200 laps.
Tony Kanaan finished in third place.
During the race, the lead changed a record 35 times. This year, fans got a first-hand look at redesigned cars that were named after Dan Wheldon, the 2011 Indy 500 winner who was killed in a fiery crash in Las Vegas in October.
After the race, Franchitti spoke of Wheldon’s likely reaction to the finish, saying, “I think D-Dub would have been proud of that one.”
Franchitti averaged 167.734 miles an hour over the course of the race, becoming only 10th driver to win at least three Indianapolis 500s – and all three of those victories have come under the caution flag.
Temperatures this year his 91 degrees, just one degree shy of the 1937 record of 92 degrees.
More in the video below.
Related articles
- Franchitti Wins 3rd Indy 500 – ESPN (espn.go.com)
- Dario Franchitti Wins Indianapolis 500 For Third Time (inquisitr.com)
- Dario Franchitti Wins 96th Indianapolis 500 (foxnewsinsider.com)
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